Car-step.



No. 870,442. PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907. 0. A. KNEELAND.

GAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED APE. 11,1907.

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No. 870,442. PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

0. A. KNEELAND.

CAR STEP.

APPLIUATION FILED APB. 11.1907.

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OSCAR A. KNEELAND, OF LISBON, NORTH DAKOTA.

CAR-STEP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed'April 11.1907. Serial No. 367.517-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR A. KNEELAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lisbon, in the county of Ransom, State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Steps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to,new and useful improvements in car steps, and it has particular reference to an extension step for use on steam railway coaches which is designed to drop when released from its locking means to a predetermined distance, which will depend on the dimensions of the parts.

Generally speaking, the invention comprises sliding brackets, protective casings therefor, a step supported between the brackets, and a spring-pressed lockingdog to hold the brackets in elevated position when the step is out of use. i

In connection with a car-step of the above type, the invention aims as a primary object to provide a novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, the details of which will appear in the course of the following description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, like characters of reference designating similar parts throughout the several views, wherein,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a car-step equipped with the improvement comprehended in the present invention, the extension step being supported out of use, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position of the extension step in use. Fig.

Fig. 4 is a detailed side elevation of either one of the supporting brackets for the extension step. Fig. 5 is a front elevation showing a car-step equipped with the present in vention.

Referring specifically to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates the side-sills of the usual stationary steps depending from the platforms of passenger coaches. Upon the sills l are mounted casings 2, of rectangular outline and formed about their sides and upper edges with flanges 3, terminating in extensions 4, the latter being in a plane parallel to the plane of the body portion of said casing, and being secured to the sills 1 by suitable fastening means 5. It will thus be seen that the flanges 3 afford a means for spacing the casings 2 away from the sills 1, to which they are secured, an open-ended recess being thus afforded and defined by the casings 2, the flanges 3, and the sills 1. Slidably mounted in such recesses are brackets 6, be-

tween the lower ends of which a car-step 7 is supported, the step 7 in the elevated position of said brackets being designed to lie in intimate relation to the lowermost step 8, supported between the sills 1. The brackets 6 are formed with longitudinal slots 9, terminating short of the upper and lower edges thereof and extending along an approximately central line. A transverse shaft or pin 10 has its ends journaled in the sills 1 and in the casings 2, as bearings, said shaft or pin being projected through the slot 9 and carrying a friction-roller 11, which contacts with the sides of said slot and affords a guide for the brackets 6 in their upward and downward movement. The roller 11 is also designed to engage the upper and lower curved walls of said slot as stops, to limit the movement thereof in either direction.

The means for supporting the brackets 6 in. their elevated position'comprises dogs 12, formed at their lower ends with projections 13 having cammed underneath faces 14, and pivoted at their upper ends, as at 15, to each of the sills 1. The casings 2 are formed in one of their flanges 3 with an opening 16, through which the projections 13 of the dogs have movement, such projections being normally held within said opening by a suitably-constructed and arranged spring 17. The brackets 6 are each provided in one of their side edges with notches 18, conformably shaped to the projections 13, which are designed to engage the abrupt side of said notches as a shoulder and to support the brackets in their elevated position.

The manner of use will be readily apparent. As suming that it is desired to lower the extension step 7, so as to render it easier for a person to board the car, the dog 12 is moved manually against the tension of the spring 17 until its projection 13 is wholly out of the notch 18, at which time the weight of the step 7 will cause the brackets 6 to descend by gravity, the roller 11 affording a guide and a stop for. their movement, as above intimated. In restoring the step 7 to its elevated position, the same is pushedmpwardly with the hand or foot, the edge of said bracket forcing the dog 12 out of the opening 16 until the notch 18 comes into register therewith, at which time the spring 17 will force the dog inwardly so thatits projection 13 engages in said notch in the manner above described. The casing 2 is preferably constructed of metal, and affords a protection against the elements which would tend to impair the efficiency of the mechanism by warping or otherwise affecting the brackets 6, the latter being preferably constiucted of wood for the sake of cheapness in manufacture.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that simple and efilcient means are provided for accomplishing the objects of the invention, but, While the elements herein shown and described are well adapted to serxe the functions set forth, it is obvious that various minor changes may be made in the proportions,

shape, and arrangement of the several parts Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed, is

In a device of the type set forth, the combination with a side-sill, of a casing fixed thereto and spaced away there from, said casing having an open end and having flanges overlying and secured to said sill, a bracket slidably disdog pivoted to said sill and having its working portion' projected through said opening and engaged in said notch.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR A. KNEELAND.

Witnesses:

.T. W. SCHOUTEN, I. B. MOORE. 

